The buzzing excitement in the academy's training dome was palpable.
Students stood in small groups, lined up in front of the gleaming device they had seen during previous lectures—the Combat Analyzer Unit. Sleek and metallic, it looked like an upright Pokédex merged with a medical scanner. A flat platform extended from its base where each Pokémon would stand for analysis.
"Today's evaluations will tell you where your partner currently stands," Instructor Vernis announced, his voice firm and professional. "Combat Class will determine your Pokémon's current classification, based on overall strength, experience, and ability to handle battle conditions. Use this as a milestone—not a limit."
One by one, students stepped forward, their Pokémon following close behind.
Ray's Perspective
Ray stood mid-line, arms folded as Pidgeotto shifted calmly at his side.
This is my opportunity, he thought. I can finally map the academy's classifications to the data I get from Statsight.
Over the past months, Ray had slowly built his own internal framework based on what Statsight showed him and what the instructors revealed. By now, he had an accurate idea of how the system truly worked:
Statsight Combat Classification System
• Non-Combatant: Levels 0–9
• Beginner-Class Pokémon: Levels 10–19
• Intermediate-Class Pokémon: Levels 20–39
• Advanced-Class Pokémon: Levels 40–69
• Elite-Class Pokémon: Levels 70–89
• Champion-Class Pokémon: Levels 90–99
• Legendary-Class Pokémon: Levels 100+
The academy only ever discussed Beginner and Intermediate levels so far. Most likely because few students had partners strong enough to exceed those ranges.
Student Evaluations Begin
First up was Elan with his Butterfree.
Statsight – Butterfree: Level 13 | Aptitude: Orange
The machine read:
Combat Classification: Beginner-Class Pokémon
Ray nodded. Perfect match.
Then came Sima and her Growlithe.
Growlithe: Level 9 | Aptitude: Yellow
Classification: Non-Combatant
A few others followed: a Level 16 Poliwag and an 18 Mankey. Both received Beginner-Class results. When a Level 22 Beedrill walked up, the display changed:
Combat Classification: Intermediate-Class Pokémon
Ray smiled internally. Confirmed. Level 20 is the threshold.
Ray and Kira's Turns
When Ray's name was called, Pidgeotto flew ahead and landed gracefully on the scanner. The machine hummed and emitted a short chime.
Combat Classification: Intermediate-Class Pokémon
He double-checked Statsight:
Pidgeotto: Level 29 | Aptitude: Light Blue
Right at the edge of Intermediate-Class.
Next was Kira.
Machop marched confidently to the scanner, flexing as it stepped onto the platform.
Combat Classification: Intermediate-Class Pokémon
Ray glanced through Statsight.
Machop: Level 29 | Aptitude: Blue
Ray smirked. Tied.
The two of them had pulled ahead of their class, no question.
Observations and Patterns
As more students completed their evaluations, Ray quietly ran Statsight across every Pokémon in sight, recording what he saw in his notebook later.
Elan's Butterfree: Level 13, Orange
Sima's Growlithe: Level 9, Yellow
Cael's Houndour: Level 19, Deep Green
Kira's Machop: Level 29, Blue
Ray's Pidgeotto: Level 29, Light Blue
No other Aptitude Blue, he confirmed. Cael's Houndour was the only one who even reached Deep Green.
He considered how Aptitude and Level aligned. A Yellow Aptitude Growlithe struggled to hit Level 10. Meanwhile, Pidgeotto and Machop, with their Blue-range Aptitudes, had soared to the top.
It wasn't just training. It was potential.
As the scanning session wrapped up, Instructor Vernis spoke once more:
"Let this serve as a checkpoint. Your partner's growth reflects your own. Train smart. Learn your partner's needs. Strength comes with understanding, not just effort."